During the enlistment period, certain colleges begun limiting the number of students they accepted into their respective departments.

Since Aug. 2, the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) has exclusively offered the remaining slots for SSP GE courses to students graduating in the first semester.

“Nilimitahan ng college administration ang mga GE courses upang ibigay lamang sa mga mag-aaral na graduating this semester,” said CSSP Student Council Councilor Allyson Maraon, explaining that non-graduating students are at a higher risk of not graduating on time due to failure to obtain SSP GE courses.

On the No Late Payment policy issued by the UP administration on July 12, Hiponia explained that students are forced to apply for a tuition loan with 6 percent interest every year.

The then No Late Payment policy prohibited late payments beyond Aug. 5 for registration, dropping, leave of absence (LOA), and residency.

However, as a result of the dialogue between Chancellor Michael Tan and the University Student Council (USC) on Aug. 2, late payments were allowed, provided that students file an appeal endorsed by the College Secretary to the Office of the Chancellor.

Student groups also protested the unavailability of education to those with unsettled delinquencies, and Kenneth Quidem from the College of Fine Arts is one of them.

Quidem, a graduating student of industrial design, was forced to file for LOA due to his tuition loans.

Before studying in UP, Quidem graduated with a degree in information technology in Informatics International College in Cainta, Rizal. Although students pursuing second degree are not qualified to apply for STS, he still appealed for a discount and was granted a full scholarship with stipend on his second degree for two years.

However, during Quidem’s last STS appeal, his full scholarship was dismissed as an oversight, and he was asked to reimburse four semesters’ worth of tuition fee with no discount and monthly stipend, which amounted to more than P120 thousand.

Because of this, Quidem will not be able to receive his diploma unless he pays his accountabilities.